/*
 * Copyright 2002-2007 the original author or authors.
 *
 * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
 * You may obtain a copy of the License at
 *
 *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
 *
 * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
 * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
 * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 * limitations under the License.
 */

package nl.jteam.jsa.core;

/**
 * @author Uri Boness
 */
public interface MutableField {


    /**
     * Adds the given values to this field.
     *
     * @param values The values to be added to this field.
     */
    void addValues(Object... values);

    /**
     * Merges the given field with this field. All values of the given field will be added to this field. The strategy
     * of merging the boost factor is left for the specific implementation.
     * <p/>
     * NOTE: The given field must be of the same type (have the same name) as this field.
     *
     * @param field The field to be merged with this field
     * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the given field is not of the same type as this field (has a different name).
     */
    void merge(Field field);

}
